Planning your trip to Italy and flying to Rome and wondering if you can buy a tourist sim card on arrival at Rome Airport? Don't waste money on high roaming charges or slow overseas data roaming plans.
This is a complete guide with everything you need to know before buying a sim card on arrival at Rome Fiumicino International Airport (FCO) in 2025.
Find out where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per January 2025, info about the best eSIMs for Italy, the best 4G/5G network, my recommendation and more.
In the past I always used to buy a local prepaid sim card in every country, nowadays I mostly use eSIMs to stay connected.
Touristy or not! This is Rome, one of the most awesome cities in the world. I have been to Rome multiple times and even after visiting more than 150 countries and uncountable big cities, I still think that Rome is a world apart. SIMPLY GORGEOUS!
Some links in this article about buying a sim card at Rome Airport are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. Don't worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you.
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends buying a Vodafone prepaid sim card on arrival at Rome Airport. For €35 EUR ($39 USD) you get 30 GB data in Italy, including 5 GB data for for EU data roaming.
It is not the best prepaid sim card deal for Italy, but the best you can get at Rome Airport.
Traveltomtom surely recommend eSIMs for traveling to Italy. Forget about the hassle buying a sim card at Rome Airport if your phone is eSIM compatible order an eSIM online.
A Jetpac eSIM for Italy with 20 GB data is just $17 USD and there are many more amazing eSIM plans available.
Another great alternative is ordering a world sim card for travelers with global coverage. Traveltomtom compared and reviewed the best international sim cards for traveling the world in 2025 and found out that some international sim card deals are great for traveling to Europe and cheaper than buying a prepaid sim card at Rome Airport.
Why buying a sim card for Rome
Yes, your hotel has free WiFi and so do the restaurants and bars in Rome, but do you want to rely on others? What if the signal in your room is weak or the WiFi is so slow you can't even upload an Instagram story? Also keep in mind that public WiFi is an UNSECURED connection.
Disconnecting is the new luxury and I totally agree however, not in a city! Ordering an Uber on the streets to get back to your hotel, getting directions from Google Maps following a walking tour, finding tourist attractions in Rome, searching for a nearby restaurant with good views and so on. I can come up with a dozen reasons why being connected to the internet makes traveling in Rome much more convenient.
Buying a sim card at an airport in Europe won't get you the best deals unfortunately, but by all means it is the easiest and fastest way to get a local sim card. You just pay a little extra for this convenience.
Another great alternative these days is an eSIM. Meaning you order an eSIM for Italy online and you will receive a code on your mobile which you enter and it gives you access to a 4G/5G mobile network in Italy. New technology that does not involve swapping physical sim cards.
More about buying eSIMs for Italy in the link where you will find my complete guide with everything you need to know about using eSIMs for traveling.
So when planning your next trip abroad make sure to come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid and eSIM advice. Bookmark me to help you save money.
Arriving at Fiumicino Airport Rome
Fiumicino (FCO) is the major international airport for tourists visiting Italy and also called Leonardo Da Vinci Airport sometimes. Rome Airport is located about 35 kilometers outside Rome City Center and has two operating Terminals at the moment: 1 and 3, Terminal 5 is still being renovated in 2025.
Most international flights arrive at Terminal 3, the largest and mostly used terminal for long-haul flights and also where you can find the sim card stores for arriving tourists.
Arriving at Rome Airport is pretty straight forward and you will easily be guided by the signs. The arrival halls is rather small.
Later also more about how to get from Rome Airport to the city center.
Where to buy a sim card at Rome Airport
Arrival Hall Terminal 1
When arriving at Terminal 1 I have bad news for you. I checked around and could not find any shop in Terminal 1 that sells prepaid sim cards for tourists. When I asked the information desk for an Italy prepaid sim card the lady confirmed that you can only buy sim cards in Terminal 3.
Luggage belts and arrival Hall Terminal 3
After passport control you can buy a sim card at the luggage belts but at the luggage belt there is only Vodafone store.
In the arrival hall at Rome Airport there is another Vodafone store and also a TIM store. The sim card stores in the arrival hall are very easy to find. When you walk into the arrival hall you turn left after the sliding doors and then the Vodafone and TIM shops are on your left hand side.
Prices sim cards at Rome Airport in 2025
All info and prices are up to date as per January 2025. Prices are in Euros: $1 USD = €0.97 EUR and €1 EUR = $1.03 USD.
You can only buy physical prepaid sim cards at Rome Airport. The sim card stores at Rome Airport do NOT offer eSIMs for tourists.
Vodafone stores
Vodafone Italy sim cards can be bought at the luggage belts as well as at the store in the arrival hall. They offer the exact same sim card deals, so it does not matter where you buy one. Just pick one that is not that busy if you really want to buy a sim card at Rome Airport. Because remember in the city center you find the same packages for only 50% of the price.
30 GB in Italy (incl. 5 GB free EU data roaming) + 300 minutes = €35 EUR - $36 USD
70 GB in Italy (incl. 12 GB free EU data roaming) + 600 minutes = €55 EUR - $67 USD
Sim card deals with a lot of data, but very limited free EU roaming and not the best sim card if you will continue traveling in Europe after you visit Rome. With a Vodafone Italy prepaid sim card you can make use of the 5G network in case there is 5G available.
At the TIM store they sell 4 different prepaid sim cards for Italy:
15 GB data (incl. 6 GB Free EU Roaming) + 200 minutes = €30 EUR - $33 USD
70 GB data (incl. 8 GB Free EU Roaming) + unlimited minutes in Italy = €35 EUR - $38.5 USD
100 GB data for Italy = €40 EUR - $44 USD
200 GB data for Italy = €50 EUR (5G network available) - $55 USD
Unfortunately TIM prepaid sim cards do NOT allow you to use the 5G network, only if specified. There are no tourist eSIMs available, only physical prepaid sim cards.
Italy sim cards and free EU data roaming
Good news is that most of the prepaid sim cards in Italy have some EU data roaming included but there are limitations so when buying a sim card in Rome Airport and traveling onwards in Europe double check before buying a prepaid tourist sim card at Rome Airport.
Free EU data roaming means that the data, voice and text allowance on your Italy sim card are also valid when traveling to Amsterdam, London, Stockholm or anywhere else in Europe at no extra costs. For more info check my guide for buying a local sim card in Europe.
Best sim card at Rome Airport in 2025
Choosing the best sim card at Rome Airport feels a bit weird as all tourist sim cards are overpriced. All in all it turns out that Vodafone is the best prepaid sim card at Rome Airport. But the starting price for a Vodafone sim card at Rome Airport is $36 USD and you get 30 GB data.
In my comparison of the best eSIMs for Italy in 2025 you will find eSIMs from just $1 USD. eSIMs are much more convenient and also cheaper than buying a tourist sim card at Rome Airport.
If you buy a sim card at Rome city center you can get an Italy prepaid sim card with 100 GB for less than $20 USD. Therefore I am hesitant telling you what is the 'best' sim card at Rome Airport. Prices for sim cards at Rome airport are obviously tourist prices.
If your phone is eSIM compatible you fix yourself an eSIM for Italy within a couple clicks and as soon as the plane lands you are already online. No more visiting a sim card store and swapping physical sim cards.
You order an eSIM for Italy on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have a Italy eSIM installed on your phone.
Upon arrival in Rome it automatically connects you to an available network and you enjoy data on your phone pretty much when the plane lands.
Traveltomtom has used sim cards from SimOptions now for more than 5 years in uncountable countries around the world and is therefore a very recommended eSIM provider. Check out our full review of SimOptions.
SimOptions offers a wide range of eSIM but the most interesting eSIMs for Italy are the international eSIMs.
These eSIMs support incoming and outgoing calls/sms and they come with a phone number.
Bouygues Telecom
15 GB data-only for 15 days = $15.90 USD
20 GB data + unlimited calls for 15 days = $21.90 USD
30 GB data + unlimited calls for 30 days = $32.90 USD
60 GB data + unlimited calls for 30 days = $39.90 USD
Orange Holiday Europe
12 GB data + unlimited calls/text + 30 minutes international for 14 days = $28.90 USD
30 GB data + unlimited calls/text + 120 minutes international for 14 days = $49.90 USD
70 GB data + unlimited calls/text + 120 minutes international for 28 days = $55.90 USD
Definitely check out the Airalo website as they often have ongoing promotion. Just recently they had 50% off on all their Italy eSIM plans.
The above data-only Italy eSIMs from Mamma Mia are only valid in Italy and do not support calling and texting. They operate on the 4G/LTE networks of Vodafone, Iliad and WindTre. That means the Airalo eSIMs for Italy are not 5G ready.
Make sure your phone is eSIM compatible before ordering an eSIM for Italy.
If your phone is not eSIM compatible and you are not looking forward buying a sim card after a long haul flight then you can also order a physical prepaid sim card for Italy on the internet. An international sim card will be delivered to your home address and is already pre-activated. Simple, easy and reliable!
Check out the following prepaid sim card deals for traveling to Rome that you order via SimOptions.
15 GB data-only for 15 days = $15.90 USD
20 GB data + unlimited calls for 15 days = $21.90 USD
10 GB data + $2 calling credit for 30 days = $24.90 USD
10 GB data + unlimited calls/sms for 30 days = $24.90 USD
12 GB data + 30 minutes international + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $29.90 USD
30 GB data + unlimited calls for 30 days = $44.90 USD
30 GB data + 120 minutes international + unlimited calls/text for 14 days = $49.90 USD
60 GB data + unlimited calls for 30 days = $51.90 USD
These international prepaid sim cards are for traveling in every country in Europe. A physical prepaid sim card will be delivered to your home address and you simply put it in your phone on arrival. Plug and play.
Here is my YouTube video about my arrival at Rome Fiumicino Airport and my experiences buying a prepaid sim card.
How to get from Rome Airport to the city center
If you are looking for the best way from Fiumicino Rome Airport to Rome city center then you have three options: bus, train or taxi. Taxi is of course the most expensive, but in some cases a great alternative, especially if you are with more people. Taking an Uber will cost you around $60 USD, but an official airport taxi is cheaper: $50 USD.
There are many busses leaving outside Terminal 3 that go directly to Termini Station in Central Rome. Prices for busses are around $12 USD but all offer the exact same service. Just grab the one that is about to leave soon. Busses take around 45 minutes to 1 hour.
There is also a direct train service between Rome Airport and Termini station. Every 15 minutes a train leaves and brings you in 30 minutes to Rome Termini. This Express train cost around $25 USD one-way in 2025.
Meaning if you are with 3 people it makes sense to just take a taxi. That is what my friends and I did when we visited Rome this summer.
Looking for a Rome itinerary? Check out my friends blog with all the tourist spots.
I hope all this information about buying a sim card at Rome Airport and how to get there and back was helpful. If you have any questions please leave me a comment below or check out my Instagram profile @traveltomtom.
Be careful as it could cause some serious wanderlust. As per January 2025 I visited more than 155 countries on my road to visit every country in the world.
